Originally released in the late '80s as a mail-order-only cassette entitled Ian Matthews Live (he changed the spelling of his first name shortly thereafter),
Nights in Manhattan (recorded in New York City in May of 1988) was reissued in 1997 with four added tracks that were recorded live two and a half years later in California (hence the "And Points West").
Matthews, along with
Mark Hallman (acoustic guitar, vocals), Craig Negoescu (keyboards, vocals), and
David Hayes (acoustic bass), though concentrating on material from
Walking a Changing Line, touches on various points in his extensive career -- including his days with
Fairport Convention ("Meet on the Ledge"),
Matthews' Southern Comfort ("Woodstock"), and
Plainsong ("Even the Guiding Light"), as well as a smattering of tunes from his solo years. The performances here are engaging, and
Matthews' excellent voice is strong and clear throughout, though the sporadic use of electronic keyboards and sequenced drums is, on occasion, superfluous, and dates a couple of the tracks. A few of the highlights include a stirring, a cappella version of "Woodstock,"
the Youngbloods' classic "Darkness, Darkness," and a beautiful reading of
Jules Shear's "This Fabrication." ~ Brett Hartenbach